This post was featured on the Local Travel Movement website. Local Travel is a platform promoting the local way of travel – getting in touch with the local people, seeing a place like a local, so it is well worth checking out their site.

There are so many things that make travel the incredibly rewarding experience that it is, immersing yourself in a new place can be incredibly liberating. Hundreds of sites, sounds and smells compete for your attention, and there is plenty of new cuisine to try. At HeadingThere though, we think one of the most important parts of the travel experience is meeting and interacting with the people who call the best holiday destinations home.

Locals can make a difference to your trip in so many different ways, a simple kindness can make such a difference when you are far from home and leave you with fond memories of a visit. Locals know the best places to eat, to drink and can help you to discover the places that tourists tend to miss.

From the response to this week’s blog carnival it seems like we aren’t the only ones who love to meet the locals when we travel. Our friends in the blogosphere have been sharing their experiences of the amazing people that they have met on the road and the ways they improved their trips.

Local Encounters – Putting Personality into Travel from Wandering Justin

Justin has some hilarious tales of how meeting locals has enriched various trips around the world. Tall tales from an Aussie in Darwin and a football match with a Viking  in Iceland, Justin also has an example of amazing generosity when a local bailed him out with a lift when he missed the last bus into town in Costa Rica. Read full blog

Top Things to Do in Seattle, Washington from The Vacation Gals

SoCalGal Jen spent a long weekend in Seattle exploring the hidden gems with local friends. An action packed four days with everything from tasty cup cakes to an amazing brewpub it just goes to show that no matter where you go in the world a little local knowledge goes a long way. If you are thinking of a trip to Seattle this is a must read. Read full blog

Zante – my Greek island holiday from Heather on Her Travels

In this podcast about her visit to the Greek island of Zakynthos, Heather explores Greek food and culture and talks to local wine makers and a wildlife conservationist who is working to preserve the endangered loggerhead turtles on the island. Read full blog

The Soba Enthusiast from These Roads

Amy tells us how meeting Mr Ito in Japan had her in stitches of laughter. She visited his soba noodle school to learn how to make the local delicacy and despite the language barrier made an instant connection with this octogenarian with a passion for noodles! Read full blog

Encounters from outside the bubble from Eleven Degrees North

Ryan from Eleven Degrees North has spent the last 2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer and in this post he describes some of his experiences integrating into the communities he has worked in. He talks about some of the locals that he has met along the way and what they have meant to his experience. Read full blog

What makes travel great? The people behind the places from Tripbod

The Tripbod service helps you to connect with locals all over the world in order to get help and advice planning your trip, so if you are inspired to connect with locals on your next trip why not check out their site? This week Liz talked to some of their Tripbod’s about what they love most about their own destination. Read full blog